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Small Business Spotlight Series
Support Local!
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Downtown Wheaton is powered by small businesses! Join us this holiday season - and beyond - to celebrate small business and learn about the entrepreneurs that make it all happen. When you shop small, you're directly supporting these local entrepreneurs and their families. Shop small to make a big impact.
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Scroll or click to explore the businesses featured in the 2024 Small Business Spotlight Series!
Visit in-store to learn more about each business' story.
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Baby Doll Bakery | Chaos to Memories | Egg'lectic Cafe | Graham's Fine Chocolates | My Half of the Sky | Naperville Running Company | Stitch Switch Men's Consignment | Tasting deVine | The Protein Spot
Baby Doll Bakery
Nicole C., Owner
“When I started on a gluten free diet almost a decade ago, I searched everywhere for delicious desserts that I could eat without getting sick. It turns out there were many others who felt the same way and the original gluten free bakery opened in Wheaton in 2019. In October 2020, I bought the bakery, renamed it Baby Doll Bakery, and put my own spin on it. I couldn’t be happier to be part of such an amazing community and providing a variety of gluten free desserts, breads, and more, for Wheaton and beyond.
There will always be factory-made goods available from big box stores and online, but having access to locally made, small batch food baked with love (and no weird stuff!) is a blessing. Everything isn’t going to look like the plastic perfection of a television cooking show, but it will taste incredible and will bring you back to your grandma’s kitchen.”
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207 S. Hale Street
Wheaton, IL 60187
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Chaos to Memories
Adam Pratt, Owner & Chief Memory Officer
“In 2010 I scanned our family photos, converted our home movies, and organized our digital photos. I turned those memories into a Family Photo Archive that was sorted, searchable, safe, and shareable for my entire family, anywhere in the world. I loved the process as much as the result, and I realized we couldn’t be the only family that wanted our memories safe and shareable. I launched Chaos to Memories in 2017 to help other families preserve their memories and tell their stories. I’m a lifelong photographer and worked at Adobe for 22 years, so I love using my expertise to help our clients.
Family photos are personal and irreplaceable, so our clients like working with a local expert they can trust. Knowing that all our work is done on-site in our Downtown Wheaton studio gives folks the peace of mind they deserve. I have an amazing staff of Wheaton residents, and clients tell us they appreciate the personal care, attention to detail, and quality of working with a small, local company.”
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122 N. Hale Street
Wheaton, IL 60187
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Egg'lectic Cafe
Massimo and Holly Salatino, Owners
“Our family has lived, shopped, and eaten local for more than 25 years. We love Wheaton!
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My husband, Massimo, has been in the restaurant business all his life and I have been in hospitality all my life. We are dedicated to offering the absolute highest quality cage free, humanely raised eggs and as many organic veggies as we can get our hands on. We are ‘super foodies’ who will always give you our best!
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When our friends Pam and Tom were ready to retire from their 23 years of owning and loving Egg’lectic Café and asked us if we would buy this beautiful neighborhood café, well, long story short (and I’d love to tell you the long version – just come in and see us!) We worked EVERY option we could, and now WE OWN THIS BEAUTIFUL GEM!
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We see our Egg’lectic Café as the 'Cheers' of Wheaton… where we make an effort to know everyone’s name and story; where everyone feels welcome, and leaves after enjoying a beautiful meal, feeling better than they did when they entered.”
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145 N Hale Street
Wheaton, IL 60187
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(630) 690-9001
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Graham's Chocolate
Beckie Untiedt, Founder
Jayni Wunderlich, CEO
"Graham's was started Dec 1, 1987 by Robert Untiedt and 6 months later I would come into the business with him. Building a business from scratch takes hard work, long hours, and dedication. Bob worked tirelessly on tasting and testing recipes that are still enjoyed today.
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Bob and I were a team: he was the Chocolatier, Entrepreneur, and myself having the gift of hospitality, our business grew and grew. My twin sister Bonnie and my daughter Jayni joined the team, and we opened the Graham's in Downtown Wheaton in 2000. Our entire Graham's staff has been integral to the success it is today. Bob taught our candymakers his love for his recipes using the finest and freshest ingredients. Bonnie and I taught our retail staff what it takes to serve the customers with the best service they can offer. Loving what we do is what drives this business.
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After my husband passed away in 2021, I decided that my daughter Jayni would become CEO and take the business to the next level. She has not disappointed! She grew up at Graham's and she knows what it takes for the business to succeed. Jayni’s husband Matthew joined Graham’s in the summer of 2023, and Graham’s continues to thrive as a family business with the next generation at the helm. Bob always said, ‘If we make the best product with the finest ingredients, our customers will come.’ Yes, Bob you are right, Chocolate Man. Look at us now!”
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119 W Front Street
Wheaton, IL 60187
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(630) 221-1199
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My Half of the Sky
Renee Pollino, Owner & Founder
“At My Half of the Sky, we want people to realize their full potential so they can flourish and impact the world through a loving community, like Wheaton, that believes in them.
We strive to empower customers to know that their purchase matters — it can truly change the lives and propel women overcoming trauma and pain to live with purpose and dignity.
We have the power to create a better world through a simple cup of coffee, tea or bakery item.”
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121 W. Wesley Street
Wheaton, IL 60187
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(630) 800-4253
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Naperville Running Company
Erin Mallory, Store Manager and John Swanson, Customer Experience Manager
"Kris Hartner founded Naperville Running Company in 2000 with one simple reason: to help people feel comfortable - whether that's running, walking, working on their feet all day, and everything in-between. Kris has been an active runner, cyclist, and triathlete his entire life and all 35 employees who work between the four locations share a similar passion for a healthy, active lifestyle. Our individualized fit process is designed to help you find shoes and gear that best suits your needs, but more importantly, we want to help you achieve your goals.
Simply put, if people didn't shop local, we wouldn't be here. It means everything to us and our families. Not only is it beneficial for the entire community, but the customers walking through our door each day are the reason we invest so much in our employees, our training, technology, and the best equipment needed to keep each other healthy and motivated. It's the reason we have employees who have been working with us for over 15 years – the connection we make with our customers is more than just selling shoes. We get to learn about your story, YOUR why and hopefully make it a little more comfortable getting there. We’re literally sitting at our customers’ feet, helping them feel better, complete races (maybe even win!), challenge themselves, and feel more comfortable in their bodies… when was the last time a big box store, or an e-commerce site could say that?”
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102 W. Front Street
Wheaton, IL 60187
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(630) 668-7867
Stitch Switch Men's Consignment
David Herda, Owner
“After 24 years as a Director of Criminal Justice Research at the University of Chicago, I took a leap of faith in 2020 and opened our first men’s consignment shop during the height of the pandemic. After the great reception and support of the local community with our first shop, we’ve opened our second location in beautiful Downtown Wheaton. Growing up in a family of seven children, I quickly realized the value of purchasing secondhand and am proud to now offer a large selection of new and like-new designer men’s clothing, shoes, and accessories at prices typically 60%-80% below retail.
As a small business, we rely on the local community to support our passion for offering unique products at a great value while providing the highest level of customer service. Your support allows us to reinvest in our community and to give back to important charities and causes. We look forward to serving you Downtown Wheaton!”
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124 N Main Street
Wheaton, IL 60187
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(630) 868-3370
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Tasting deVine
Amanda and Beverly, Managers
Pictured: Tiffany and Beverly
“Tasting deVine opened in Wheaton in June 1999 as the first wine tasting room in town. Fred Kohler, the founder of Lynfred Winery was excited to bring his award-winning wines to Wheaton as the first remote location to be opened featuring Lynfred Wines exclusively.
Today, we continue to serve and sell locally produced wines and now locally brewed beers. We have found this to be a true niche encouraging the ‘shop local’ atmosphere. Tasting deVine has been lovingly referred to as the ‘Cheers’ bar of Wheaton with friends greeting each other with hugs while enjoying quality time, stories, and laughs together.
Over the years, our Wine Club members have become friends with us and with each other and we’ve gathered for birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, babies, and even celebrations of life.
We are truly thankful to the many friends who have supported us over the years through the ups and downs of economic challenges and the pandemic.
We are grateful for every person that walks through our front door!”
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127 W Front Street
Wheaton, IL 60187
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(630) 752-9463
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The Protein Spot
Juan Rubio and Xomy Morales, Owners
“We've been on this journey for over 14 years and finding our way to Wheaton has been an absolute treasure. The community we've encountered, and the tight-knit group that's formed at The Protein Spot, has been a delightful surprise. We know our regulars and are familiar with their favorite drinks, family stories, and even the challenges they face in life. The only word to describe our experience is "blessed." Two years ago, when we first visited Wheaton, we knew we had found our home. Being a small business owner is challenging, but the last year and a half has been an incredible blessing. We're grateful for the support we've received from our community and for the wonderful people we've met along the way.
Shopping locally isn't just about buying products – it's about supporting dreams. By choosing to shop at local businesses, you're supporting entrepreneurs and their families, who in turn build and strengthen our community. This helps us all work toward a common goal of creating a healthier, happier, and more connected community.”
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111 W Front Street
Wheaton, IL 60187
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(630) 480-0011
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Event Policies:
Rain or Shine:
Unless otherwise indicated, outdoor events occur rain or shine. If lightning or other dangerous weather is imminent or present, the DWA reserves the right to cancel or delay any remaining event activities. Updates on the status of an interrupted or canceled event will be posted to Facebook and Instagram @downtownwheaton. Please note, event websites and social media pages may not be immediately updated to reflect any weather-related changes. In the event a ticketed event is canceled, the DWA will email ticket holders with options for their unused tickets.​
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Photography/Video Use:
The Downtown Wheaton Association takes photographs and videos of attendees for the purpose of promoting our events, promotions, membership, etc. By attending any DWA events and/or promotions the participant (or parent/guardian of a minor participant) agrees to the use and distribution of their image/likeness (or that of a minor child/ward) in photographs, video recordings, and any other electronic reproductions of such activities for any purpose without inspection, compensation, or any other consideration now and in the future.